Distributing recorded classroom lectures via podcasting for replay on mobile devices is gaining increasing popularity. However, few insights exist regarding the actual usage and usefulness of such files, especially in situations where high-quality recordings of those lectures are available for non-mobile replay as well. In this paper, we compare the results of two surveys done with local students who had access to podcasts as well as high-quality files for replay on laptops and desktop PCs on the one hand and external users who just subscribed to the podcasts on the other hand. We compare the usage of the different versions, address the motivations of the two different user groups, and discuss general issues such as perception of the quality of the audio and video signals. Based on our observations we conclude that the added value of such “e-lecture podcasts ” is mainly in its potential for mobile usage, whereas most of the other arguments given in favor of such an e-lecture delivery are rather due to the better visibility and “advertisement ” of podcasts then justifiable by the technology involved.

Automatic recording and capturing of live lectures and presentations has been explored and evaluated by various research projects since the mid 90s and has meanwhile been adapted by a number of commercial systems. Here, we discuss and summarize "Authoring on the Fly" (AOF) which is a special incarnation of this idea. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the AOF approach, the experience we have obtained and the requirements we have identified during its development over the last few years as well as to report on current and future research issues involved.